Improvement in life-preservers



T. RICHARDS. Life-Preservar.

No.-212,402. Patented Feb. 18,1879.

1.PErERS. FHOTO-LITMDGRAFHER. lwAimNGTON. D. C

UNITED raras- Pn'rnN'r Orrrcn.

TIIOMAS RICHARDS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

`INIPROVEM ENT IN LIFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 212,402, dated February 18, 1879 g application filed July 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMns Rrcrrnnns, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and -State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchras will enable others skilled in the art to -which it pertains to make and use it, referthe upper section being thicker than the lower section, forming a ilange or projection over the upper part of the lower sect-ion, and in its general construction, that will more fully hereinafter appear.

My improved life-preserver, as indicated, is constructed in the form of a close fitting sleeveless jacket or coat, and of any suitable textile material.

-My device obviatcs all liability to displacement, as there is but one possible way that it can be worn, and that the right way.

The wearer will necessarily assume and lpreserve an upright position in the water, no matter how feeble he may be, or in what position he strikes the water; and my device will carry him with his head safely above the crest of the highest waves without any exertion upon his part.

The jacket is made of any suitable textile material, double or bag-like, and filled with cork or other light substance, cut into small pieces, so as to render the garment as flexible as possible, and the pieces of cork quilted or otherwise well secured.

In the drawings, Figure l represents the life-preserver; and Fig. 2 is a view of the jacket thrown open instead of being buttoned up in front, as shown in the former figure.

A represents the lower section of my device, which is constructed to encircle the body below the armpits, and is made, as described, of pieces of cork quilted to the coverin. This lower section is no part of my invention,

further than its combination with the upper section, B.

The upper section, B, is similarly made, with the exception that the lower edge of this section B is made to project over the upper part of the lower section, A, as shown at B in the drawings, thus forming a flange. This upper section is preferably filled with wedge-shaped cork, the heel forming the flange, with the point terminating at the neck, as shown in Fig. 2.

This projection or tiange I consider a great improvement over all former constructions of life -preserving apparatus. creases the volume of cork used, and at the most desirable point, (as near the head as possible,) but also presents to the surface of the water a broad base, which adds materially to its buoyancy, and at the point where of most service in keeping the head above the water and in position to exercise its function.

Having thus described the construction of my device, what I claim is l. A life-preserver made in the form of a jacket or cape, and provided with an upper section whose greatest thickness is at lits base, and which gradually tapers in horizontal dimension from this point upward, substantially as set. forth.

2. A life-preserving jacket consisting of `a lower section, encircling the body below the armpits, and an upper section, which encirclcs the body above this point, said upper section being formed with its base portion projecting' well out in horizontal line from the side of the lower section, and gradually decreasing in thickness as it approaches the top, subst-antia-ily as and for the purpose described.

'3. In a life-1' reserve1-,a section formed to project outwardly in horizontal line from the side of the remaining portion of the preserver, and which forms an annular shoulder or lla'n ge about the same, said section having its base of greatest sectional dimension, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

JN0. GROWELL, Jr., F. TOUMEY.

It not only inp 

